Method and apparatus for rolling tapered wheel disks



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1w, HUGHES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TAPERED WHEEL DISKS Filed Nov. 5. 1926 2 Shams-Shoat 2 Irwenior Jr hejsfifiw hes; fl 1 2 7 .fliivrnay.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES W. HUGHES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO BUDD WHEEL COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TAPERED WHEEL DISKS Application fi1ed November 3, 1926. Serial No. 145,935.

The invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for rolling tapered metallic disks such as are used in the manufacture of motor vehicle wheels, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for rolling such disks from square blanks.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of and apparatus for rolling such disks, either singly or in packs, and to do this expeditiously so that only one heating of the blanks is necessary.

Other objects of the invention are the production of such disks with a minimum of handling, and an almost negligible Waste of metal, and at a very rapid rate, thereby greatly lowering the cost of production.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description read in connection with the drawings illustrating one form of apparatus adapted to the carrying out of the method. V In the drawings which are of a diagram matic nature, omitting well-known details of commercial machines:

Fig. 1 shows partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section a portion of a machine embodying one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 represents a portionof such machine when viewed. in plan.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing parts thereof only, but on an enlarged scale.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the blank and the platen upon which it is supported at two diiferent stages of the rolling operation.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the means for raising the rolled disk or disks above the flanged edge of the platen.

The improved method consists in rolling a heated square blankor a pack of heated square blanks by sulqecting the opposite sides of the blank or of the pack of blanks to a rolling pressure acting at one instant of time along a radial line and causing a rotation of the blank or blanks in one direction to eflect the rolling of the entire surface of the blank. and, thereafter subjecting the blank or pack of blanks to a similar rolling action but with the blank and rolling elements rotating in the reverse direction. By

suitably choosing the rolling pressures and the duration of the rotation of the blank or pack of blanks in either direction, the blank and 13 inclined to the vertical and arran ed 120 apart above a turntable 14: rotataibly supported in a bearing seat provided therefor in the massive frame 15 of the machine.

The spindles 12 and 13 of the rolls are supported in the portions 16 andl'? of the frame 15 overhanging the turntable 14. At their upper ends, these spindles are provided with large gears, as 18, which are adapted to mesh with smaller gears, as 19 driven by motors, as 20, see Fig. 1. The gearing and motors are not shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 1 shows but one of the sets of gears and the motor cooperating therewith, it being understood that the construction of the driving mechanism for the two rolls is identical.

As indicated by the arrows in F i 2 it will be noted, however, that the spindles of the two rolls are driven in opposite directions.

.The turntable 14 is shown provided with three rotatable platens spaced 120 apart whereby two of these platens may be brought opposite the two rolls, respectively, while the third is in an intermediate loading and unloading position as indicated in Fig. 2. I

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, each platen comprises an outer portion 23 having a circumferential flange 24, and forms a cylindrical seat for a vertically slidable bed plate 25 the upper face of which has a slightly dished contour to conform to the taper which it is desired to give the disks being rolled. This construction permits the ready substitution of plates 25 having different contours it de sired.

It will be noted by reference to the drawing that the inner periphery of the circumt ferential flange 24 of each of the platens 22 is provided with four equally spaced niches or recesses 26 which are adapted to receive the four corners of the square blank or blanks being rolled, and thus provide a positive lock to prevent relative rotation of the blanks on the platen.

Each of the platens 22 has a downwardly extending sleeve connected thereto this sleeve and the main body of the platen being rotatably supported in the turntable by suitable antifriction bearings, as 26' and-27. Within this sleeve is slidably mounted a shaft 28, the reduced upper end of which projects into a hole 25' in the bed plate 25. From this construction, it will be obvious that the raising of the left 28 from the position shown in Fig. 1. also raises the bed plate 25 for a purpose to be described presently.

The turntable may be rotated by any suitable means, to bring the platens 22 succes sively opposite the respective rolls 10 and ll.

In the drawings, I have shown a conventional means consisting of a toothed zone 29 at the periphery of the turntable, meshing with a gear 30 secured to a shaft 251 iournalled in bearings 32 secured to the shell surround-- ing the turntable. The shaftmay be rotated by any suitable means to permit the rapid turning of the turntable to advance it a step of 120.

.Vhen the ta bin is being turned is in a lowered posi n. within its bearing seat in the frame from 1 1e position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, wh l the roll 10 and platen. 22 are shown in ope tive rolling" engagement with the opposite sidesv of a blank a. A suitable means may he enipl red to effect the approach and separation inc ments of the rolls sin; turntab and l have indicated a conventional means for purpose in Fig. 1. Below the ie shown a plate 38 which. is nonsecured in the lower portion of the bearing stat of the turntable by a snit l means such as the spline 34. This plated?) has. fol-med in its under side one or more grooves, as 35, having an inclined upper surface, and this glflii'j'e or grooves are adapted to receive the wedge or Wedges, as 36. The reciprocation of these Wedges 36, effects the raising and lowering of the turntable and thereby Causes the approach and. separation inoven'ients oi the platens 22 and rolls 10 and 11. I have indicated the pitman 37 and the crank disk 38 as conventional means for reciprocating the wedge or wedges 36. It will be evident that, a the wedge is moved to the left from the posi shown in Fig. 1 the turntable will be allowed to descend by gravity and. the flanges 2% on the platens 22 beneath the rolls 10 and 11 Will be lowered ile' easy removal, the plate 33 is provided on its upper face witha cam groove 39 within which the lower ends of the shafts 28 project. At one point, between the position of the finishing roll lland the loading position be tween the two rolls 10 and 11, the cam groove 39 has a raised portion, as indicated at 40, in Fig. 6. As the turntable is rotated the lower end of the shaft 28 adjacent said raised portion 40 rides up the inclined side thereof to the position indicated by the dotted lines Fig. .ln this dotted line position, the shaft has raised the bed plate 25 so as to bring its upper surface flush with or above the circumferential flange 2i oi? the turntable, when the disk or disks seated thereon may be readily removed. v

The operatioi'i oi the ii'nproved apparatus is as follows:

Assuming the rolls 10 and. 1'1 to be continuously driven in opposite directions as shown by the arrows, Fig. 2 and the turntable to be located in the position shown in said ligure, and in its lowered position, a heated. blank or a stack of heated blanks is placed upon the platen 22 at the loading posi' tion at station A, so that the four corners of the square blanks fit into the recesses and thus low" the blanks against rotation relative to t. platen. The turntable is then quickly iiOl'lltEd through 120 to bring this loaded platen under the roll 10 at station B. The turntable is then raised to subject the opposite sides of the blank or the stack of blanks to the rolling action of the rotating roll 16. it sultlcient pressure is brought to bear upon the blank, after one complete .olntion of the platen, the blank will have rolled to a shape somewhat as indicated g. i and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. W

that several revolutions of the redo it necessary, before the 1 lion had, but this is a" which can be varied to suit conditions. i'i hile the blank is being rolled at station E, the en station A is being loaded, and when the rolling operation at station E is completed, the turntable is lowered, and quickly rotated through another step oi 120 to bring the partly rolled blanks, as shown in Fig. 4, under the roll 11 at station C and the unworked blanks under the roll 10 at sta tion it. Vi i'ien the turntable is now raised, rolling will take place at both stations B and C. and the blank or blanks at station C will, after one or more revolutions, depending on conditions of? pressure and plasticity of the metal, be formed to the substantiallycircular shape shown in F iv. 5 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and to the taper of the bed plate 25. While rolling was taking place at stations B and C, the third platen 22 was being loaded at station A, and when the turntable is now lowered and again rotated through 120 the finished disks in leaving station 0 are lifted by raised portion 40 in cam groove 39 above the flange 24 on the platen, where they can'be readily removed and replaced by an un- Worked blank or blanks at station A. The operation may now be continuous as long as blanks are supplied to each successive platen when it reaches station A. I

While I have herein described a method of rolling metal disks from square heated blanks, it will be understood that the method may also be practiced with cold blanks it the plasticity of the metal is such as to secure adequate flow under the rolling pressures, and while I have described a specific form of apparatus for carrying out this method, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made, which will fall within the spirit of my invention, and I aim to cover such changesand modifications in-the the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is 1. The method of rolling metal disks from substantially square blanks which consists in subjecting a blank to theaction of a pair of oppositely rotating rolling elements acting, at a given instant, upon the opposite sides of the blank along a line extending from approximately the center to the periphery of the blank, and rotating the blank in one direction until the entire peripheral portion of the blank has been subjected at least once to the action of such rolling elements, and thereafter subjecting the blank similarly to the action of rolling elements rotating in reverse directions.

2. The method of rolling metal disks from substantially square blanks which consists in subjecting a blank to the action of opposed rolling elements rotating in opposite directions and acting, at a given instant, upon the blank along a substantially radial line extending "from the periphery of the blank to- Ward the center, said rolling action continuing until the entire peripheral portion of the blank has been subjected at least once to the action of such rolling elements, and thereafter subject said. blank similarly to the action of rolling element s rotating in reverse directions.

3. The method of rolling metal disks from substantially square blanks, which consists in projecting a rolling element against one side of a blank, suitably supported on its other side, to subject the blank'to rolling pressure acting on the blank, at a given instant, along aline extending from the periphery to a point adjacent the centre of the blank, rotating said blank and roll in one direction while maintaining the rolling pressure until. the entire peripheral portion of the blank has been subjected at least once to the rolling action of the rolling-element, and thereafter subjecting the blank similarly to the action of a rolling element while said blank and element are relatively rotating in reverse directions.

4. The method of rolling tapered disks from substantially square blanks which consists in non-rotatably seating said blank on a support, then by relative approaching movement of said support and a rolling element subjecting the blank to a rolling pressure along a line of'substantial length extending from a point near the center to the periphery of the blank, and while maintaining said pressure, rotating said support and roll in one direction, then subjecting the blank to a similar rolling action while relatively rotating the support and the roll then coacting with the support in reverse directions.

5. The'method of rolling tapered metal disks from substantially square blanks which consists in securing a blank against rotation on a plane having a surface conforming to the contourto be given the blank, then bringing a conical faced roll into position to act upon the blank with a rolling pressure along a line extending from a point adjacent the center of the blank to its periphery, relatively rotating said platen and roll, While the rolling pressure is maintained, to a prede termined extent in one direction and then subjecting the blank to a similar rolling action, but with the platen and the roll then acting thereon rotating in reverse directions.

6. The method of rolling tapered metal disks from substantially square blanks, which consists in subjecting the blank while held against rotation relative to a rotating support, to the action of a roll rotating in one direction and acting, at a given instant, upon the blank along a line extending from the periphery toward the center of the same, and thereafter subjecting the blank to the similar action of a roll rotating in the opposite direction.

7. The method of forming tapered disks which consists in successive rolling of a blank, first in one direction, then in the reverse direction, between opposed rotatable dies, which contact with said blank along substantially radial lines.

8. In a machine for rolling thin metal disks, the combination of a rotary support for a blank, a pair of rolls, means for successively bringing said blank into operative engagement with the the rolls to force the metal of the blank outwardly, and means for rotating said rolls in dillerent directions with re gard to said blank.

9. In a machine of the class described the combination of a rotary support for a blank, a pair oi? oppositely rotating rolls "Willi regard to said blank, each adapted to be suc cessively projected against the blank to roll the same, and means for so projecting the rolls successively against the blank, e h for a predetermined time sufficient to permit sub stantially the entire surface of the blank to be rolled.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary support for a blank, a pair of oppositely rotating rolls adapted to coact successively with said support to subject the blank, at a. given instant, to a rolling pressure along a. substantially radial line extending from the periphery of the blank inwardly towa rd the center. and means for successively bringing said rolls into operative relation to said blank and support.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary support for a blank and means for securing the blank against rotation relative to the support, a pair-of oppositely rotating rolls adapted to coact successively with said support to subject the blank. at a given instant. to a rolling" pressure along a line extending from a point near the center to the periphery, and means for successively bringing said rolls into operative relation to said blank and support, said last named means including a turntable carrying said support.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of rotary supports for blanks, a plurality of oppositely rotating rolls adapted to coaet successively with said supports, a turntable carrying said supports and adapted to bring the same in operative relation to the rolls, and means for causing relative approach and separation movements between said rolls and the turntable whereby when the supports have been brought, one into cooperative relation with each roll, they may coact therewith to effect the rolling of the blanks.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary support for a blank and means for securing the blank against rotation relative to the support, a pair of oppositely rotating rolls adapted to successively rotate the work in opposite directions, and means for successively projecting said rolls into working relation with the blank and support.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a turntable, rotary work supports carried at equally-spaced intervals by said turntable, a pair of oppositely rotating rolls spaced the same interval as said work supports, means for bringing the rolls into coopera re relation with two work supports by a relative approach of the work supports and roll and .s for advancing the turnsupport wt blank in opposite t. lee-nous,

16. A die for holding a polygonal blank to be acted upon by a companion die by a rollin process, comprising a depressed portion 0 the configuration of the finished piece, a peripheral wall and notches in said peripheral wall adapted to receive the corners of said polygonal blank, and prevent rotation thereof relative to the said die.

17. In apparatus of the character described, a turntable having a plurality of spaced rotatable work supports, a plurality of similarly spaced rotatable die carrier means for rotating said die carriers and work supports, means for causing successive registration ofsaid die carriers and work supports, and means operated by such registering movement for removing work from said work supports.

In testimony whereof he hereunto afiixes his signature.

JAMES W. HUGHES. 

